Improving comprehension for HIV vaccine trial information among adolescents at risk of HIV

Abstract

A simplified version of the HIVNET prototype HIV vaccine process was developed for adolescents at risk of HIV by: (1) reducing reading level; (2) reorganizing; (3) adding illustrations; and (4) obtaining focus group feedback. Then adolescents (N = 187) in three cities were randomly assigned to the standard or simplified version. Adolescents receiving the simplified version had significantly higher comprehension scores (80% correct vs. 72% correct), with 37% of items significantly more likely to be answered correctly. They were also significantly more likely to recall study benefits and procedures. Overall, adolescents were less willing to participate in a potential HIV vaccine trial after presentation than prior to presentation. The present study indicates that it would be feasible for adolescents to participate in a vaccine trial, as simplification of vaccine information, combined with illustrations to depict key concepts, resulted in improved scores for adolescents on the comprehension and recall test.

Acknowledgments

The Adolescent Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions (ATN) is funded by grant No. U01 HD40533 from the National Institutes of Health through the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (A. Rogers, R. Nugent, L. Serchuck), with supplemental funding from the National Institutes on Drug Abuse (N. Borek), Mental Health (A. Forsyth, P. Brouwers), and Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (K. Bryant).

We acknowledge the contribution of the investigators and staff at the following ATN sites that participated in this study: Children's Diagnostic and Treatment Center, Fort Lauderdale, FL (A. Puga, P. Ford, M. Brown Hayes); Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA (V. Montenegro, D. Tucker, E. Calderon); and Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York, NY (L. Levin, J. C. Guerrero, K. Sykes).

The study was scientifically reviewed by the ATN's Behavioral Leadership Group. Network scientific and logistical support was provided by the ATN Coordinating Center (C. Wilson, C. Partlow), at University of Alabama at Birmingham. Network operations and analytic support was provided by the ATN Data and Operations Center at Westat, Inc. (J. Ellenberg, K. Joyce).

The investigators are grateful to the members of the Community Advisory Board for their insight and counsel and are particularly indebted to the youth who participated in this study.

We also acknowledge Zane O'Keefe who served as a consultant on this project.